Twisted Tales: The Fae of Nightborn

Dreams & Dread

Fairy Tales are simply stories to entertain or to have a moral, right? Right?!? Not in the Twisted Gothic setting of Nightborn; many of these tales have roots in real historic events, experiences, and cryptic warnings. Many of the details are muddled in the published versions you may purchase at a local bookstore or watch in an animated movie, but Fae may be lurking around, through, or over any corner. What are the Fae? They are Nightmares, Fears, and Wishes, given form. Though if you ask them, they will claim the lands of Dream existed far before our mundane world. Their homes and worlds have slowly yet steadily crumbled over the past few centuries, forcing them into refugee status on Earth. The calamities which befell the Dream Realms coincided with technology booms on Earth. Is this coincidence, a cause, or a planned plot? Many Fae and folklorists have their own theories. Fae kingdoms and nations of origin existed between space, parallax to our world, as far away as Myth yet as close as a Dream. Now they exist at the thresholds and spaces near the border betwixt things. Despite their precarious position, Fae have been known to possess near god-like powers limited only by their own convoluted rules and logic which only makes sense to the dream folk. Apparently, saving their realms was beyond the capacities of any of them. One aspect of their powers which does track, is that Fae must be true to their word. A promise made is a promise kept. Once a pact with a Fae is made, it might as well be a law of nature as much as gravity (unless a mischievous Fae reverses gravity, in which case that is a bad example). This is why tales warn weary mortals of loopholes in agreements, but don't think you can easily outwit a being whose existence depends on their word, at least not on your first try.

The Courts

Not a Fae are the same. Actually, you will be hard pressed to see commonality between any two Fae, even Fae in the same family can demonstrate entirely unique traits. That is not to say they don't have common goals and aspirations. In fact, Fae often pledge themselves to one of two courts: the Seelie or the Unseelie Courts. The Seelie Court is not to be confused with the 'Good Guys', though they may appear so at first, especially compared to the Unseelie Court. Many in the Seelie Court have more pleasant or jovial appearances: Elves, Fauns, Gnomes, Clockwork Toys, or Wondrous Beasts, for example. Seelie Fae believe in Order and Rules, which included enforcing said rules without room for exception. Working with Seelie Fae may seem like a Dream, until you color outside the lines, even a little bit. The Unseelie Court may not be strictly the 'Bad Guys', but they are not to be trifled with. Many appear to be gloomy or possess a severe countenance: Goblins, Orcs, Dark Beauties, or the Monster-Under-Your-Bed. Unseelie Fae revel in mischief and mayhem. Like the Seelie, they strictly follow rules as is Fae nature, but with the aim of subverting them and targeting loopholes. This contrarian view often puts Unseelie at odds with the Seelie. The two group are usually at an uneasy peace, yet conflicts have been known to result in all-out war in the past.

Immortal Memories

Fae do not seem to age from time passing, nor do they die of what those of this world would consider "natural causes". This,